What to do with unwanted items
Decluttering isn’t complete until you decide what to do with everything you’ve chosen to let go of. The next step is finding the right destination for each item—whether that means giving it new life elsewhere, responsibly discarding it, or turning it into extra cash.
After decluttering, you’ll need to decide where the unwanted items should go:
Donate clean, gently used items
Toss damaged & expired items
Sell valuable, in-demand items
Questions to ask before selling:
Is it worth my time to sell?
Compare the money you’ll make to the estimated time you’ll spend selling it, and determine if the hourly rate is worth it.
Am I being realistic about how much I can make?
Check what similar items actually sold for on marketplaces—not just the asking prices.
Is there demand for what I’m selling?
If the market is flooded with similar items, donating might be faster and easier.
How long will I give it to sell?
Set a deadline, and if it doesn’t sell by then, donate it.
Can I bundle it with other items?
Grouping similar items can save time and boost value.
Mindful Moment
Sometimes the selling route is chosen as a way to avoid letting go, especially if you’re dealing with loss aversion or emotional attachment. If you’ve chosen to sell, take some time to examine your intentions.
Deciding where things go is just as important as deciding what stays. When you release items thoughtfully, you free up both physical and mental space—and ensure that what once weighed you down can move on to serve someone else.
